MORRIS COUNTY — Legislation sponsored by Senators Joe Pennacchio (R-26) and Anthony Bucco (R-25) to pay tribute to former Morris Plains Mayor and Morris County Freeholder Frank Druetzler for his many years of laudable public service, by ceremoniously renaming a local rail station in his honor, has passed the New Jersey Senate.
“Frank Druetzler’s legacy exemplifies all that makes Morris Plains ‘the Community of Caring,’” said Pennacchio. “From his 15 years as freeholder to his 32 years as mayor, he has dedicated decades of his life to public service. Frank always put people before politics. Renaming the train station in his honor is a fitting tribute.”
Pennacchio and Bucco’s bill, S-3449, would ceremoniously rename the Morris Plains rail station, to designate it as the “Frank J. Druetzler Station – Morris Plains, New Jersey.”
Druetzler, a Morris County native, began his distinguished career in civil service as a member of the Morris Plains Borough Council. In 1986, Druetzler was elected Mayor of Morris Plains and later to the Morris County Freeholder Board.
His achievements include establishing a Memorial Day parade, a local “Family Day,” the town bonfire, and “Uncle Frank’s Fishing Contest.” Under his leadership, Morris Plains opened a Community Center, a borough museum, and erected the Morris Plains September 11, 2001 memorial. As Freeholder, he pushed for and successfully secured the preservation of open space, and built a new county library.
“Mayor Druetzler made the residents of Morris Plains and Morris County his priority at all times,” said Bucco. “He was instrumental in spearheading numerous projects that bettered the local community and New Jersey as a whole. I am proud to support the effort to change the station’s name in honor of Frank. The people of Morris Plains and Morris County are better off because of him.”
